“The effort must be continued,” the Deputy Prime Minister said
Ten initiatives to protect the environment were presented by the Deputy Prime Minister, Kostis Hatzidakis, speaking on Thursday night at an event by the Natural Environment and Climate Change (Oipoka) at the Maroussi Town Hall on the occasion of World Environment Day.
Mr. Hatzidakis noted in particular that “June 5th is not a celebration of the environment. It is a vigilance call, a call for action. Because the climate crisis is here. We see it with the huge fires all over the globe. We see it with water scarcity. We see it with phenomena that are so unprecedented and had not been observed all previous decades. “
Mr Hatzidakis then emphasized that “we have an obligation, first and foremost, to the government, not to celebrate obviously, but to be vigilant and planning for the future.” While he presented 10 specific initiatives to protect the environment which, as he pointed out, prove that “not only did we not stay with arms crossed, but we took many steps ahead, some of them with serious reactions”:
1. Aputing: Through the fair development program, invitations have been issued totaling EUR 1 billion. At the same time, they are proceeding with works in the field of RES. While PPC has announced that Ptolemais 5, the last lignite unit, will retire at the end of 2026. showing the provision of being present in the field and making substantial investment in the RES, along with other investments made by other businesses.
2. Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources: Greece is 7th all over the planet in RES. In 2024 55% of electricity comes from renewable energy. While the country became a net electricity exporter in the same year.
3. Submarine electrical interconnections of the islands: The interconnection of the Cyclades, which will be completed in 2026, is proceeding. And the inauguration will take place in about a month.
4. Steps to electric drive: Mr Hatzidakis, after noting that Greece has not progressed as other countries, said that, thanks to the government’s incentives, electric vehicles have reached 50,000 out of just 500 in 2019. At the same time, charging points have exceeded 8,000.
5. Energy -saving actions: After recognizing the delays in the “saving” payments, Mr Hatzidakis stressed that “in recent years 3 billion has been given for energy savings”.
6. Town Planning and Spatial Planning: They are proceeding, with funding from the Recovery Fund, 245 local and special urban planning plans across the country. “When completed, it will certainly be the largest urban reform, but possibly the largest silent, peaceful reform ever in Greece,” Mr Hadjidakis noted.
7. Modern waste management: In 2019 there were only 3 modern units. Today, there are 13 modern units, 24 are constructed, and 6 are starting this year.
8. National Reoreso Plan-Antinero: Through the program there is 600m euros, an amount that, as the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out, “has nothing to do with the past”. At the same time, in forest maps the sanction has reached 90% of the country’s area. In addition, in the context of the National Reforestation Plan, the reforestation of northern Euboea has already been completed, followed by two reforestations in Thessaloniki, one in Parnitha and one in Penteli.
9. Sneaky landscapes: With the programs “Sneaky Mountains” and “Scaming Beaches”, a total protection regime was established in 9 mountains and 238 beaches, of distinct natural beauty.
10. Contemporary Environmental Law: Here, Mr. Hatzidakis noted: “I had been criticized then as a responsible minister. They had appealed to the Council of State. They were rejected. ” He added that forest maps have been proceeded with this law, a new European model for Natura was adopted, environmental licensing was radically simplified. And was founded by Oipota, replacing 36 scattered bodies for protected areas. Mr. Hatzidakis praised the role of Oipokas, as a high -level staff, noting that “things have changed. I am glad that I myself had the initiative to set up OIPEKA and now its operation has justified me. ” In addition, he added that Opinpeca was implementing projects totaling € 80 million from the recovery fund.
Concluding his speech, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed that Greece has not solved all the problems with the environment. And he continued: “The effort must continue. And it’s very high on our agenda. The New Democracy government has, however, made the environment, far more than several governments that preceded it. ” The Deputy Prime Minister concluded, stressing that “they may not bring votes like other issues, but the actions for the environment are consciousness actions! And especially those of us who have children and young children, who want to live in a human country and in a human planet, have an obligation to have the environment to have the environment too high! “